To My Fellow Introverts, Keep These Things Few Thoughts Close.

I consider myself an introvert.

Most people laugh when I tell them that because they know me as the guy who feels comfortable on a stage or who is always hosting people in his home.

But many people share my experience of being an introvert:

• Shamefully awkward in school.

• Lots of time spent on creative endeavors.

• A feeling of being different.

• Filled with anxiety.Subscribe now

For all my fellow introverts, here is a list of ways to keep yourself grounded in a very loud and unrestrained world.

Don’t take your introvert label so seriously: It’s a helpful guide, but these labels don’t define you.

Being introverted doesn’t mean you are shy: You can still be an excellent communicator with practice.

It’s okay if you spend a lot of time alone, but you must fight to not be isolated: While things that energize most might drain you, we were designed for community and need to find healthy doses of it.

The world is a loud place, and introverts often feel overwhelmed by it: It’s important to remember that the feeling of being overwhelmed comes from thoughts, not people or things.

You might have a higher tendency to ruminate and worry: You need to exercise daily to release those endorphins and depressurize your mind.

Just because you’re introverted doesn’t designate you to be a hermit in the woods: You’re not weak; you just take more time to process human interactions.

Introverts see the world differently and notice things others don’t seem to notice: With a more attentive eye and retrospective mind, use these things to invent, create, and provide.

There is nothing wrong with being nervous, but your nerves should not limit you: Doing things that we fear is a necessity if we want to continue to grow as a human.

Because you’re in your mind more than others, it is critical that you get your mind to a healthy place: There are lots of ways, but begin with deep breathing, steady prayer, time in God’s word, and therapy.

Don’t be ashamed of the real you.

If you had asked me a few years ago whether I enjoyed being alone, I would have laughed it off and said, “Absolutely not. I’m a people person.”

I didn’t know there was another real option.

If I could go back, I would tell my past self that it is okay to be a little more quiet, weird, nervous, and introspective than others.

God made me this way for a reason. While there is always room to improve, we need to leave room to accept.

To all my fellow introverts, what have you found to be most helpful over the years?

Thank you for reading This post is public so feel free to share it with a fellow introvert.